This question is predicated on my understanding that real algebraic geometry (henceforth RAG) is the version of algebraic geometry (AG) one gets when replacing (esp. algebraically closed) fields with formally real (esp. real closed) fields. This makes for substantial differences in the theory because such fields can be ordered, and with order comes the notion of a semialgebraic set and a stronger topology.
I am aware that there is a notion of "real spectrum" analogous to the traditional spectrum of a commutative ring, though I'm not terribly familiar with either. I assume this allows one to glue things together and define "real schemes" or some such thing. Or if not, I assume the reason this doesn't work is something one would learn in the study of RAG.
My question: Given the differences in the theories, how well does one need to understand "traditional" AG to study RAG? Are there references (preferably books) which introduce RAG at an abstract level without assuming much knowledge of AG? Or is asking for this like when people ask how they can learn about motives without knowing about AG first?
I already have Basu, Pollack, and Roy's Algorithms in Real Algebraic Geometry but I'm looking for something less algorithmic.